Betty J. (Walt) Kalliaine

She was born on January 20, 1943, in Laurium, a daughter of the late Raymond and Esther (Haataja) Wiinamaki. Betty was raised in various parts of the United States, but graduated from the Lake Linden High School in 1961. She then attended nursing school in lower Michigan before graduating from Suomi College.

Betty worked for the U.P. Power Company, was the personal secretary for Herman Gundlach, and bookkeeper for Swede Intermill at Maple Lumber Company before beginning a career with Houghton National Bank/Wells Fargo Bank, where she retired from as Chassell branch manager in 2001.

On September 18, 1965, she was united in marriage to Walter Kalliainen. The couple has resided in Portage Entry since that time.

Betty was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chassell where she had been active with the Quilters of the Church and served as the financial secretary. She also served on the Chassell Township School Board for a number of years. Betty’s hobbies included reading, shopping with her sister-in-law, Evelyn, and watching the Detroit Tigers, but only when they were winning.

Preceding her in death were her infant son and daughter; parents; her sister-in-law, Kathy; and her brother-in-law, John.